Late surge sees Tipp Minor Footballers see off Waterford

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship Phase 1 Round 1

Tipperary 1-16

Waterford 1-6

Report: Michael Dundon at Fethard Town Park

MATCH DIGEST

Players of the Match: Ned O’Meara (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Ned O’Meara 1-6 (0-5 frees); Killian Smith, Dara Maher, Darragh Bresnan 0-2 each; Aaron McAndrew, Sean Burke, Dylan McCormack, Sean Griffin 0-1 each.

Waterford: Aaron Curran 1-0; Senan Devane 0-2 (2pt free); Jake Kearney, Ciaran Sullivan, Tom Lynch (free), Michael Barry 0-1 each.

An injury time goal by Ned O’Meara inflated Tipperary’s winning margin over Waterford in the Munster Minor Football Championship Phase 1 Round 1 clash to a flattering ten points on Monday evening.

Tipperary looked to be coasting when leading 0-13 to 0-4 early in the second half but a Waterford surge which yielded 1-2 and was followed by a missed penalty, and another great goal chance spurned a minute later, all in the space of seven minutes, from the 40th to the 47th minutes, threatened to burst the Tipperary bubble.

However, with Ned O’Meara, leading by example, Tipperary weathered the storm, the captain setting the seal on a fine individual performance with a goal in injury time.

Happy with the win, joint-manager Shane Hennessy nevertheless cautioned afterwards – “There were some good aspects to our play but there were also things we will have to work on.”

Sean Burke gave the home side the lead inside thirty seconds but Waterford, with a two-pointer free from Senan Devine, led briefly.

Tipperary dominated the first half and with O’Meara (0-4) getting through a lot of work as well as being accurate from frees, ably backed by Killian Fitzgerald, and the midfield pairing of Sean Griffin and Aaron McAndrew, the home side enjoyed far more possession.

Their build-up was patient, perhaps a tad too much, but when they reached the break with a 0-10 to 0-3 advantage, they looked comfortably on course to winning.

Waterford had not scored from play in the period and the Tipp defence was not stretched to cope with what the Deise attack offered.

Three points at the start of the second half from Killian Smith, Darragh Bresnan and Dara Maher consolidated Tipp’s position but then Waterford found a gear.

Michael Barry pointed in the 39th minute; Aaron Curran netted a minute later followed by points from Jake Kearney and Ciaran Sullivan leaving the visitors 1-6 to 0-14 adrift at the three quarter stage.

It could have been worse as Waterford’s Oisin Hallahan shot wide from the penalty spot after 46 minutes and was off target again with another gilt-edged goal chance a minute later.

Tipperary didn’t panic but their concern reflected itself in a raft of substitutions. They then got an important break after 54 minutes when a free in their own half was brought forward 50m for Waterford dissent, giving Ned O’Meara an easy point from the kick, a score which stemmed the Waterford tide.

“We were coasting but made some decisions we shouldn’t have, and this led to a slump. They got a few scores, but we weathered the storm and came good again at the finish”, was Shane Hennessy’s assessment of the situation.

O’Meara pointed again in the 56th minute and in injury time he was on the end of a smart move between Sean Griffin and Aaron Brazil, finishing to the Waterford net with aplomb.

Always important to start a campaign on a winning note, this victory sets Tipp up for their next outing away to Limerick next Monday evening, and then host Clare in round three.

The top two teams will meet in the Daryl Darcy Cup final and also proceed to Phase 2 where they will be joined by Cork and Kerry for the really serious business to begin.

With the games coming on quickly there is little time for players or management to adjust but this game will acclimatise these young lads who have a lot of talent and who will surely benefit hugely from the number of games available to them.

Captain Ned O’Meara was in the thick of things all through while the surging runs from defence of Killian Fitzgerald also impressed. Conor Hurley, Dylan McCormack, Darragh Bresnan, Sean Griffin, Aaron McAndrew and Dara Maher were others to catch the eye.

Waterford’s poor first half was their undoing, but they showed lots of quality when they got moving in the second half. Oisin Hallahan and Tom Lynch were the big threat in attack with Hug Scanlan, Michael Barry and Aidan Curran also prominent.

TEAMS – Tipperary: James O’Brien (Moyle Rovers 6); Cormac McInerney (Cashel King Cormacs 6), Daniel Charles (Clonmel Commercials 6), Killian Fitzgerald (Lorrha 7); Darragh Bresnan (Arravale Rovers 7), Conor Hurley (Moyle Rovers 7), Jack Kearney (Ballyporeen 6); Sean Griffin (Upperchurch/Drombane 7), Aaron McAndrew (Moyle Rovers 7); Sean Burke (JK Brackens 6), Ned O’Meara (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone, Capt 9), Luke McKeogh (Ballina 6); Killian Smith (Clonmel Commercials 6), Dylan McCormack (Clonmel Og 7), Dara Maher (Clonmel Commercials 7).

Subs: Sean Cleary (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 6) for Burke (47); Conor Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 6) for McKeogh (49); Reuben Grace (Galtee Rovers 6) for Maher (50); Aaron Brazil (Lattin Cullen 6) for McAndrew (54), Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs NR) for Hurley (58).

Waterford: Darragh Walsh (6); Hugh Scanlan (7), Andrew Ryan (6), Jesse Kiely (6); Michael Barry (7), Luke Higgins (6), Senan Woods-Wyse (6); Eddie O’Reilly (6), Ronan Sullivan (6); Aaron Curran (6), Tom Lynch (7), Ciaran Sullivan (6); Oisin Hallahan (7), Jake Kearney (6), Senan Devine (6).

Subs: Corry Lyons (6) for Higgins (HT); Callum Doyle (6) for O’Reilly (HT); David Ryan (6) for Woods-Wyse (45); Paul Bagnell (6) for C Sullivan (50); Charlie Crotty (6) for Kearney (51).

Referee: Timmy McGrath (Limerick).